The Jeonnam track is 5.4km long and has the usual Tilke mix of over-taking-friendly sharp hairpins plus a couple of quick corners. It’s not clear from the diagram if it has much in the way of gradient.

Here’s how the race organisers describe the circuit:

The most notable characteristic of the Jeonnam Circuit is the fact that it has been designed as two inter-changable tracks; the F1 track (5.6km) and the permanent track (3.04km).

During ordinary occasions, such as domestic automobile races or motorcycle races, the northern part of the circuit (3.045km, in the shape of a hat) will be used. But during international motor-sport events, such as the F1 Grand Prix, an elongated track (heading towards Yeongam Lake) will also be utilized, extending the total length to 5.6km. In the past, several circuits within the country have made short-courses by temporarily blocking certain track areas.

But the Jeonnam Circuit is the first course to actually be designed as a dual-structure from the beginning. The Motegi Twin Ring Circuit of Japan has also attempted to combine an “oval course” with a different “general course”, but the Jeonnam Circuit is the first track in the world to have combined 2 different F1-standard-sized courses.

Another characteristic of the Jeonnam Circuit is its racing direction: counterclockwise. Only 2 of the 17 circuits listed on the 2007 F1 Calender (Turkey and Brazil), have been designed in this manner. The Jeonnam Circuit would be the only counterclockwise track located in Asia. Since most drivers are used to clockwise-direction tracks, the Jeonnam Circuit will serve as a unique, but challenging, experience for the world’s best racers.

The Jeonnam Circuit also has two separate sets of pits and paddocks (a facility used for storing and inspecting race cars) for the general track and the F1 track, respectively. This is an unprecedented feature in the world. By having 2 different pit facilities, the Jeonnam Circuit is able to offer sufficient space for other “support races”, which are also held during the F1 Grand Prix period. In addition, the 2 pits will allow larger parking room for the F1 race cars.

The Jeonnam Circuit has combined all the strong points of other famous tracks, such as Monaco and Indianapolis. The marina section, which is located in the southern part of the F1 track, offers breathtaking views of the nearby ocean. The Jeonnam Circuit will become the first permanent track in the history of F1, to have the ocean in the background. Within the marina section, a radial-shaped town (closely resembling Monte Carlo of the Monaco Grand Prix) will be constructed. This region will be developed into the greatest motor-sports cluster of the East.

93 comments on 2010 South Korean F1 track shown in new pictures on official website

I can’t even get the English version of the official Korean site to work. I have serious doubts about this one. Jun nam is not a very popular spot, and is WAAAAAYYYY off the beaten track. I’ve lived in Korea for 6 years now. We’ll see what happens.

Uh-oh. Below is a link to a site that haas a picture of the area as of January, 2009. There is nothing. Just some grading. You won’t see any of those wonderful buildings either. They’re not there. They do this all the time (stretch the truth) in promotional materials for construction sites and new buildings in Korea. That’s what had me worried when I saw the artist’s drawings instead of actual pictures.
They build things fast here, but not that fast.http://www.korealifes.com/formula-1-circuit-near-mokpo-south-korea/2009/01/13/

After so many years of people talking about how great the classic tracks and classic turns are one would think that they would start to build tracks that resembled older tracks and turns that made this sport so fun to watch.

Just looked at those new photo’s, its SOOOOO FLAT!!!!!!
I just hope there is going to be some cambre in the corners and not much run off in the ‘street’ section, as the layout itself looks OK.
However, I fully expect another Tilke bore-fest.
:(

Its so weird every new track now has a marina.
Its not about how it looks like on the outside its about the track isnt it?
And I dont think FIA should be adding more tracks in countries who hasnt have much experience with F1. Just my opinion…

Its so weird every new track now has a marina.
Its not about how it looks like on the outside its about the track isnt it?
And I dont think FIA should be adding more tracks in countries who hasnt have much experience with F1. Just my opinion…

I dont think FIA should be adding more tracks in countries who hasnt have much experience with F1.

So what are you saying? That they shouldn’t e allowed to develop a following simply because they don’t already have one? What if the next Ayrton Senna is some kid from Korea who turns on his television one rainy Sunday afternoon and is enamoured with the South Korean Grand Prix?

gwenouille-There is no scenery around the track! Check out the photos posted by Chris Yu Rhee on the first page of this thread. There is NOTHING there. I live in Korea and know this place. The buildings shown in the artist’s conceptual drawings don’t exist now, and probably won’t for a long time. The economy is FLAT here, and no one is going to build a business park like that in an area that is solely devoted to farming. At this time, they only have HALF the funding required to complete the track. I am just worried that they’ll do everything half-ass (the norm here, unfortunately) and F1 either drops the race from the calendar in 2010, or worse yet, have the race here in 2010 and tell Korea “never again.” Then all Korea will have is a $100M+ loop of asphalt surrounded by rice paddies.

Probably never. There’s been very little in Korean about this event. As Maxwell Smart would say; “Missed it by that much…” This seems to be the norm in Korea. They almost get it right, but miss the finer, yet important, bits.
Example – new four-lane highway to Incheon Airport, yet there are only two speed cameras and sensors. It makes me wonder what they are thinking, or if they are thinking…

Please help me! I want to attend this race whether the circuit is bad or not. I want to know where the best will be around the circuit in ranking order since I don’t have any box invites. If you have some for me,(
3) please name your price. Syd

Please read my posts above yours. There is nothing but grading and some paving (maybe). They have on 50% funding to-date, so don’t hold your breath. I have not been able to find any info on obtaining tickets in English OR Korean! I don’t know if they can pull this one off in time…

They just reported that they had a successful ‘test’ at the track in Korea. Couldn’t find any info anywhere other than what I saw on the ‘ticker’ at the bottom of the tv screen while I was watching racing on a Korean channel.
The official website has some more current pictures showing a lot more has been completed, but still nothing in English or Japanese.
I’m hopeful but….